BEHRINGER – Weird Instrument of the Week – The Teletron!

{ November 17, 2010 @ 3:03 am } · { Behringer's Blog }
{ Tags: analog synthesizer, apple, behringer, blog, instrument, keyboard, mixers, Music, Robert Schneider, Teletron, The Apple in Stereo, The Teletron, weir instrument of the week, weird }

Robert Schneider of The Apples in Stereo has created a new instrument that translates human brain activity into pitch.

It’s surprisingly simple; what sounds like a Master’s thesis research project or plot device from an ’80s era David Cronenberg film was actually a pretty simple hack. It involved an inexpensive Mattel toy and an old analog synth from Radio Shack.

The toy (“Mindflex”) works by reading user brainwaves to activate small fans, which push a lightweight ball around an obstacle course. Robert simply repurposed the fan control signals to send CV (Control Voltage) data to his synthesizer. Add a little analog delay, and you’ve got the beginnings of the next Doctor Who theme song. Or plot.

Good work Robert, when can we expect the wi-fi version? An iPhone app, perhaps? See the main article over at good ol’ WIRED.COM for more info.

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